Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18482 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 346 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 30 ) 80

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

May

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Midnite Special @ Station East, Gateshead. 7:30pm. Free. A Lonnie Donegan ‘King of Skiffle’ celebration.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only). SOLD OUT!
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 07: Robert Finley @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50. Excellent US falsetto soul/blues voice.
Thu 07: ALT @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Rob Walker. Thu 07: Liam & Shayo @ The Globe , Newcastle. 8:00pm. £5.00. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 08: Alan Law Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Law, Mick Shoulder, John Bradford.
Fri 08: Giles Strong & Richard Herdman @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Guitar duo.
Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 6:00pm . Free. A Late Shows event.
Fri 08: Nigel Kennedy @ The Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Line-up inc. Alec Dankworth.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

A Xmas Black Swan jam session - Dec. 17

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Shayo (vocals); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); David Pipkin (drums); Liam Oliver (guitar); Bailey Rudd (drums); Kate O'Niell (vocals); Robert Johnson (alto sax); Ian Drever (vocals); Jan Spencelayh (vocals); Lisa ? (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Theo Nolan (drums); Tom ? (drums); Becky Tuck (vocals); Ruth Lambert (vocals); Pete Tanton (trumpet); Jessica ? (piano); ? (vocals); David Gray (trombone)

Glittery tops and Xmas jumpers were worn by some, others couldn't be bothered - bah humbug! What mattered was the jazz and the Black Swan was as busy as ever. The house trio got things underway with But Not for Me. Excellent. Drummer Abbie Finn sported a relatively restrained Xmas jumper, Messrs. Law and Grainger the more soberly attired. The final jam session of the year was up and running.  

First to be given the nod - Harry Keeble and Jacob Egglestone. The boys gave Yardbird Suite a good workout. Shayo sang Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise, the Ruddicks made it to the final jam of the year and were joined by drummer David Pipkin (of STAN the Band fame). A good friend to the Black Swan is drummer Bailey Rudd and it was good to see him before the Christmas break. Up from Teesside, Kate O'Neill. Vocalist Kate is a keen supporter of the Westgate Road jam session, this evening signing Blue Moon. 

It had been a while since Jan Spencelayh made it to the jam. What would she sing? Cheek to Cheek - a good choice. Harry K accompanied Jan on Moondance, MC Paul Grainger's bass walking them through it. Lisa sang, Ian Drever sang, Esther Coombes chipped in on alto and clarinet, Becky Tuck singing Santa Baby reminded us that the 'Big Day' isn't far away, Robert Johnson, this week on alto sax, has become accustomed to how it works here at the Black Swan, we'll see - and hear - more of him, that's for sure.


An ailing David Gray arrived late on. A croaky throat precluded any vocals, Showtime opting to stick with his primary instrument - trombone. And on the subject of late arrivals...none other than Mr Pete Tanton and Ms Ruth Lambert arrived in time to join the party. Their presence guaranteed a grand finale. MC Grainger assembled 'Horns-a-Plenty' (every horn player left standing) as Ruth launched into Chris Smither's Love Me Like a Man (Bonnie Raitt laying claim to the best known, indeed best version of the tune). Thanks to Ruth and Pete, the final jam session of 2024 turned out to be one to remember. Russell
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